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Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

mashable.com

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Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#41

Post by nukeop »

SamLevin88 wrote: post #4

Finally, somewhere I can appropriately vent about this. About TWO years ago I was constantly annoyed by the 'secure your account: add your phone number here' banner frequently displayed at the top of the page upon loading FB, so I input my number to make it disappear for good. (Also, they kept hiding the 'x' (close) icon in different spots, making the banner difficult to dismiss.) A few days later I got a text messag…

If despite these practices and despite you realizing what a horrible breach of trust this is you still don't consider it the last straw and do not get your account banned (which erases all information about it forever, at least from the public view, as opposed to "deactivating" it which leaves all the information and posts there which makes it almost equivalent to simply not logging in), then you are a part of the problem. You are forcing the other users among your friends to remain on this user-hostile platform and you are responsible for its domination. You have to draw the line somewhere. Enough is enough. They are showing you that they consider your privacy worthless. Somebody has to be the first to leave the website.

Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#42

Post by dizzystar »

tomc1985 wrote: post #35

Seriously, why do the rank-and-file of Facebook engineering allow this to happen? Does anyone stand up to their employers anymore? Or does everyone just drink the koolaid and ask no questions?

If you personally won't do it, the person next you, or your replacement, may.

Toeing the party line sucks at any job, but it's part and parcel to receiving a paycheck assuming you aren't doing something downright illegal.

Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#43

Post by joewee »

Problem is Facebook is still using the original revenue model that has made it rich, which requires engagement. Unfortunately they encourage engagement using the techniques that initially made it grow, which the market is now tired of. Facebook needs to diversify. Take a note from amazon, Netflix.

Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#44

Post by tejasmanohar »

Joe-Z wrote: post #27
ReidZB wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I realize that the proper solution is to terminate my account and never attempt to log back in.... but I've had my account since 2006 and despite the company's terrible practices, I'm really not interested in disconnecting for good at this time Well, that's the real problem, isn't it? If users aren't punishing Facebook by leaving the platform in droves, then what incentive does Facebook have to stop its consistentl…

I don't want to delete my account either, because I use fb to stay in contact with friends spread around the globe. (Granted: Very rarely to post something in local groups also.) But my bookmark points to facebook.com/messages and I practically never look on my feed. I guess (/hope) I'm about as valuable as a deleted account to facebook. Please feel free to correct me if you have some insights into this!

Use messenger.com instead of facebook.com/messages to get rid of the distracting notifications.

Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#45

Post by nukeop »

ASalazarMX wrote: post #19
SamLevin88 wrote: post #4

Finally, somewhere I can appropriately vent about this. About TWO years ago I was constantly annoyed by the 'secure your account: add your phone number here' banner frequently displayed at the top of the page upon loading FB, so I input my number to make it disappear for good. (Also, they kept hiding the 'x' (close) icon in different spots, making the banner difficult to dismiss.) A few days later I got a text messag…

> I realize that the proper solution is to terminate my account and never attempt to log back in I've had a "terminated" account that occasionally gets emails inviting me to "Log back in with one click". When I originally tried to delete the account, it told me it would be actually erased a month after. That was 6 years ago.

To have your account erased as opposed to "deactivated" (which doesn't really do anything) the surefire method is to spam gore images on popular groups.

Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#47

Post by Caveman_Coder »

onychomys wrote: post #28
loorinm wrote: post #7

This happened to me too. The value of being on facebook is an illusion. In person relationships are vastly more rewarding, both emotionally and financially.

Many of us have family spread all over the country. I can keep in contact with them all via a facebook group instead of one at a time over the phone or group text (...not that my mother would understand how to do that) or the like. Even if you don't appreciate how it connects you to your friends (if it even does), surely you can appreciate how it can connect you to your family.

I completely agree. I don't use FB for anything other than keeping up with my family that live in different states. I don't have any casual friends on FB, and especially not co-workers. For seeing pictures of my nieces and nephews and various family gatherings that I can't be a part of FB works fine. But I don't follow any brands or willingly subject myself to advertising...all the stuff that FB wants you on their platform for I willingly ignore.

Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#48

Post by r053bud »

Joe-Z wrote: post #27
ReidZB wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I realize that the proper solution is to terminate my account and never attempt to log back in.... but I've had my account since 2006 and despite the company's terrible practices, I'm really not interested in disconnecting for good at this time Well, that's the real problem, isn't it? If users aren't punishing Facebook by leaving the platform in droves, then what incentive does Facebook have to stop its consistentl…

I don't want to delete my account either, because I use fb to stay in contact with friends spread around the globe. (Granted: Very rarely to post something in local groups also.) But my bookmark points to facebook.com/messages and I practically never look on my feed. I guess (/hope) I'm about as valuable as a deleted account to facebook. Please feel free to correct me if you have some insights into this!

I just think you need to be cognizant of how Facebook is tracking you across websites as well. It's not just the information you have associated with your account, when you are logged into Facebook, you are tracked wherever you go. Now, there are certainly ways to limit this using plugins, etc.

Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#49

Post by eterm »

HankB99 wrote: post #34

FB (among other web sites) continually asks for my phone number. I continually ignore their entreaties. I always suspected they could not resist the temptation to use it like this. I really expected them to sell it to telemarketers.

Not only asks but I've had it display what it thinks is my number and asked, "is this your number?".

I've consistently denied telling it my phone number. Of course it has it via whatsapp now but I've repeatedly made clear I don't want it associated with my facebook account. Reading this news I'm very glad I've put up with its demands and not linked it just for 2fa.

Re: Facebook spamming users via their 2FA phone numbers

#50

Post by tjoff »

ReidZB wrote: post #22
SamLevin88 wrote: post #4

Finally, somewhere I can appropriately vent about this. About TWO years ago I was constantly annoyed by the 'secure your account: add your phone number here' banner frequently displayed at the top of the page upon loading FB, so I input my number to make it disappear for good. (Also, they kept hiding the 'x' (close) icon in different spots, making the banner difficult to dismiss.) A few days later I got a text messag…

> I realize that the proper solution is to terminate my account and never attempt to log back in.... but I've had my account since 2006 and despite the company's terrible practices, I'm really not interested in disconnecting for good at this time Well, that's the real problem, isn't it? If users aren't punishing Facebook by leaving the platform in droves, then what incentive does Facebook have to stop its consistentl…

In my book this is more or less another proof that you should be vary of vendor lockin and that under no circumstances whatsoever use any such system for communication. It is bad enough to change phone number but you simply can't change facebook to something else and continue as usual.

I guess this leaves email, SMS and IRC as the main remaining options.

Somehow this needs to be communicated to the general public, but I don't have the slightest hope that this can be solved.

The future sucks.

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